Top News:
Jeff Goldberg / Hartford Courant:
Back Pain Could Keep Manny Out Longer Than Expected — NEW YORK - The Red Sox discovered the source of Manny Ramirez's pain Wednesday, and it is potentially more serious than just a sore back. — Ramirez was diagnosed with a strained left oblique by team internist Dr. Larry Ronan …
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Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Back seat for Ramírez — Sore slugger will be out indefinitely — NEW YORK — With the Red Sox able to expand their roster with minor league call-ups starting Saturday, manager Terry Francona said it was unlikely the team would make a roster move for this afternoon's game against the Yankees …
Discussion:
SawxBlog
Gordon Edes / Boston Globe:
Retro Rocket — Clemens fuels Yankees past punchless Sox — NEW YORK — The lead is down to a still-comfortable six games, and unless Curt Schilling can offer some vintage Schill this afternoon the way Roger Clemens gave the Yankees some retro Rocket last night, it might be five …
Mike Lupica / NY Daily News:
With card up his sleeve, Joe Torre managing a smile — It was not the 20th of April now, that Friday night at Fenway Park when Joe Torre brought the great Mo Rivera out of the bullpen for the eighth inning a month or so after saying he would do nothing of the kind this season.
Discussion:
New York Post
Rob Bradford / Boston Herald:
Clemens conjures gem — NEW YORK - Bill Mueller's base hit seemed like millions of years (and dollars) ago. — His single in the fourth inning of the 2003 ALCS drove Roger Clemens from the Yankee Stadium mound for what Red Sox [team stats] fans thought was the final time.
Discussion:
New York Post
Jim Caple / ESPN:
Shut up, Red Sox Nation
Shut up, Red Sox Nation
Discussion:
River Ave. Blues, Roar from 34, Boston Sports Media Watch and The Mighty Quinn Media Machine
Dan Gelston / Associated Press:
Interference call helps Phils beat Mets — PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Marlon Anderson went a little too wide with his slide. — Anderson's hard takeout attempt might have been enough to bust up a double play in the ninth inning and allow the tying run to score for the New York Mets.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, New York Post, mvn.com, Blogging Baseball, The Musings and Prophecies … and Amazin' Avenue
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Marty Noble / MLB.com:
Mets fall to Phils, NL East lead at three — Game-ending interference call irks players, Randolph — PHILADELPHIA — Throughout his team's mostly unremarkable season, manager Willie Randolph often has bemoaned the Mets' inability to bury their opponents or at least create margins for error.
Ken Mandel / MLB.com:
Notes: Rotation suddenly overflowing — Hamels' return would give Phillies six starting pitchers — PHILADELPHIA — Cole Hamels' pending Sunday return creates a pitching quandary. Suddenly, the Phillies will have six starters in the rotation. — Again. — "Decisions need to be made," said righty starter Adam Eaton.
Discussion:
The Good Phight
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets slip with Marlon Anderson's slide — PHILADELPHIA - The Mets went down fighting last night. And arguing. — Umpire C.B. Bucknor ruled runner Marlon Anderson intentionally interfered with Tadahito Iguchi while the second baseman was trying to turn a game-ending double play.
Discussion:
New York Post
Mark Sheldon / MLB.com:
Harang blanks Bucs for 14th win — Griffey Jr. goes deep in first inning for career home run No. 592 — PITTSBURGH — It was a shift from doubleheader debacle to singular bliss for the Reds. — Behind Aaron Harang's two-hit shutout in a smooth 8-0 win over the Pirates on Wednesday …
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Philip Humber & Mike Pelfrey on way; Pedro Martinez next — PHILADELPHIA - The Mets are preparing to start Mike Pelfrey on Saturday in Atlanta, but Philip Humber is expected to get a call-up, too. — Pelfrey is -7 with a 5.92 ERA with the Mets this season, although GM Omar Minaya countered …
Discussion:
New York Post
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George King / New York Post:
BOMBERS PLAN TO AMEND JOBA RULES — The Joba Rules are about to change, The Post has learned. — And after watching Kyle Farnsworth almost flush a Yankees win last night, the alterations can't be made soon enough. — Joe Torre and minor-league pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras …
Discussion:
SportsJustice
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Ken Rosenthal / Fox Sports:
Dodgers claim Loaiza off waivers from A's — FOXSports.com, Updated 21 minutes ago — LIKE THIS STORY? — The Dodgers have added another starting pitcher to their rotation, claiming right-hander Esteban Loaiza on waivers from the A's. — The teams did not complete a trade for Loaiza …
Discussion:
The Griddle, True Blue LA, Dodger Thoughts, 6-4-2, FanHouse, Babes Love Baseball, MLB Trade Rumors and Baseball Musings
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Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Notes: Bard becoming workhorse — Padres catcher getting more time with injury to Barrett — SAN DIEGO — Less is apparently more for Padres' catcher Josh Bard these days, except when it comes to the number of innings that he's been logging behind the plate.
Discussion:
Gaslamp Ball
Anthony McCarron / NY Daily News:
Ian Kennedy's shaping up as Yanks' mini-Mike Mussina — Pro scouts liked Ian Kennedy enough in high school to buzz around La Quinta High when he pitched, and the St.Louis Cardinals even drafted him in the 14th round when he was a senior. But there always seemed to be an undercurrent of doubt …
Doug Tucker / Associated Press:
Tigers blanked, fall 4 1/2 out of 1st — KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jim Leyland figures an inspirational speech is the last thing his struggling Detroit Tigers need. — More than anything, after getting shut out by Kansas City 5- on Wednesday night, the Tigers could use a strong performance …